Sports ministry giving $45m in grants to Olympians, Paralympian

KINGSTON:

The Government will be giving grants to every member of Jamaica's team to the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, told a news conference today: "I have $45 million allocated to provide Appreciation Grants to members of Jamaica's delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

The minister said the money was being disbursed directly to 66 athletes, including one Paralympian, and 21 athlete support personnel who formed Jamaica's delegation to the Games.

Grange said the Appreciation Grants was "in addition to over $20 million disbursed to athletes under the Athletes Assistance Programme" as they prepare for the Paris Games.

Junior athletes who competed at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, will also receive gift vouchers totalling J$760,000 from the ministry.

Grange was speaking at the news conference to announce the Jamaica leg of the new global athletics league, Grand Slam Track, being led by former World and Olympic champion and record holder Michael Johnson.

Grand Slam Track will feature top runners competing in four track events across four cities each year.

Grange said Grand Slam Track was a welcome addition to the sports calendar.

"The best part of the idea is that one of the Slams will take place in Jamaica - the home of the best athletes... Because of Usain Bolt and our too-numerous-to-list World and Olympic champions over the years, Jamaica is firmly established as the sprint capital of the world. It was therefore an easy decision by all involved that Jamaica should be at the heart of this new league that will celebrate the fastest runners in the world," she said.

The minister said Grand Slam Track fits well into "the Government's deliberate sports development thrust which aims to position Jamaica as the best country to participate in, watch and talk about sport".

She said the event is an example of the outcome that the Government is trying to achieve by "making Jamaica a venue for international sports - for competition and for hosting meetings of international sports federations".

The Grand Slam Track league will begin with the Kingston event at the National Stadium from April 4-6, 2025.